Blogging has become a fantastic tool for those who work in marketing, small businesses, and for the everyday person. They are versatile and can be created by anybody. It may seem like to set up a professional blog, you need a large marketing budget to get great design plus hosting and a domain name. But with a hosting discount, you can get your business’ hosting and domain name set up for the first year for just $12….hardly an unaffordable price. They also have a promotion going right now for 86% off deluxe hosting plans!

Here are five steps towards blogging success:

1. Decide on your blogging niche

First and foremost, you must decide on a blogging niche before you begin creating your blog. This is vital because it allows you to imagine what your blog may look like, what the needs of your blog may be, and what sort of name you imagine it to have. All these important decisions rest on what kind of content you are going to produce, which depends completely on the niche that you are going for. Niches can be anything, from a vegan cookery blog to an SEO marketing blog.

2. Decide on a name

From your chosen niche, you should be able to brainstorm a couple of keywords that are related to the type of content you are going to produce. Write down as many relevant keywords as you can, and research other similar blogs to you. By researching other blogs, you can learn how they have named their blogs, and see if there are any patterns which you can use to influence your blog’s name. Once you have some ideas written down, you can use free websites that check whether or not somebody else already owns that domain. It is vital that you choose a blog name that is not being used because if you one day want to buy that domain, you will find that it has already been purchased.

3. Choose a platform to host your blog

There are many different platforms to choose from when finding a free host for your blog. The most popular of all these is WordPress, which offers a free blog set-up for you. However, it is important to research the other platforms too, finding out what each one offers, so that you can get the best-suited host for your blog. Many of these blogging platforms will give you a domain for free, but also offer you the option to upgrade your plan with them and buy a domain from the get-go.

4. Choose a layout

Once your blog has been initially set up on your chosen platform, you will be able to easily design your blog. Many platforms offer free design templates for you to use, which may offer some customizations for free as well. During this stage you can play around with each template and see which one suits your blog the best. Remember to choose something that is appealing to the eye but also professional – that way you will draw in more readers in the future. Of course, if you want to leave this part until later, you can. Many of the platforms let you change your design and layout as many times as you desire.

5. Get writing

Now that your niche, name, platform and design have been set up, the only thing to do now is to get writing. Creating your content isn’t just about writing a large quantity of blog posts – it’s about creating high-quality content that will draw in your readers. There are also other blog pages to consider when writing the content for your blog. Most blogs need a “contact” and “about” page to let the readers know exactly how to get in touch with you and who you are. You could add many other pages to your site, depending on your niche and how you want your blog to look.

Blogs have endless possibilities and are easily adaptable to your needs, even when you are setting one up for free. These basic five steps will set you up in an efficient and quick way, and whilst you continue to create your blog with content, you will discover many other tips and tricks to make your free blog even more impressive to your readers.

Effective public relations and marketing skills can mean the difference between success and failure for the small business owner. When you are in business for yourself, it is not enough to create great products and provide top-notch services – you need to constantly build your brand and attract new customers as well. That is where smart marketing comes in.

Chances are your small business does not have the extra resources to hire a high-priced PR firm or embark on an expensive advertising campaign. The good news is that you can launch an effective public relationscampaign without those additional resources, simply by taking advantage of what is already available. Listed below are some tips you can use to get the word out about your business.

Harness the power of the newsletter – newsletters, both electronic and physical, can give a real boost to your business. Emailing monthly newsletters to customers is a great way to bring them back to the store, especially if you include coupons or other special discounts. A strategically placed newsletter in a busy location is another excellent way to spread the word about your company and what it has to offer.

More on Coupon Codes For Your Newsletter:

Even if your company doesn’t offer coupons or discounts, you can offer your customers coupon codes for related services that they would likely use. You can even partner with other companies and get commissions for signups for these services. Your customers will appreciate the value you’ve given them, and you can create another stream of revenue for your business!

Where does one get these coupon codes? They are easy to find. We’ve found some coupon websites here:

CouponVPS.org – This is the best web hosting coupon website out there. If your customers tend to make or build websites, giving out godaddy.com coupons from this website can help them save hundreds per year on hosting fees. As for getting commissions, just google ‘hosting company + affiliate program’ and you should find affiliate programs for these companies pretty quickly.

DealTour.org – if your customers like to travel, then they’ll definitely appreciate DealTour. They offer coupons for all the big travel sites: Expedia, Hotels.com, Hotwire and more.

2. Use press releases – issuing a press release is a great way to invite the public to your grand opening, or to unveil your latest product. If you have good writing skills, you can probably create your own press releases. Otherwise, there are writing services who can do the job for you.

3. Take advantage of local media – study the local media landscape, from AM and FM radio stations to local television stations and newspapers. Ask about appearing as a guest on local radio and TV shows to discuss your business and your expertise. Many radio and TV stations run public interest segments that focus on area businesses and local services – these outlets are tailor-made for the small business owner.

4. Create a social networking presence – social media outlets like Facebook and Twitter are the perfect marketing platforms for your small business. Set up a Facebook page and Twitter feed, and use those outlets to advertise your business, offer discounts to new customers and entice existing customers to return.

5. Set up a blog – setting up a blog is a great way to keep your existing customers up to date while welcoming newcomers to your store or place of business. Focus on creating great content that gets the attention of the reader, and be sure to update your blog regularly.

Lots of homes have Wi-Fi networks. They’re great for easily sharing your internet connection around your home. Your network is available to anyone who can pick up the signal — and you may find that someone is using yours without your permission.

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Norton has a wifi privacy tool you can use to protect your home’s wifi network against hijackers. With a norton coupon code it only costs a few dollars per year.

Wi-Fi thieves are freeloading off your internet, and it can cause you a number of problems. Many internet connections have data limits and limited speeds. You don’t want someone causing your Netflix to run slowly when you’re trying to watch a movie, and you also don’t want people using up all your data for free.

If you use your home network to share files between devices, then an intruder can also get access to all your personal files. They could even read your personal emails, gain access to bank accounts, or cause damage to your computer.

There are a number of things you can do to detect Wi-Fi thieves.

Router Lights

Most routers will have a number of lights which will flash and show you if any data is being transferred. Ensure that all devices connected to your Wi-Fi are turned off and then look at the lights on the router. If they’re still flashing, then data is still being transferred through the router. If you notice that data is being used when you have nothing connected to your Wi-Fi, you should check to see who is connected to your home network.

Check the Router

You can get a list of all connected devices if you log into the router. To do this, you should enter the IP address of the router into your browser. In most cases it’s either 192.168.1.1 or 192.168.0.1. If either of these IP addresses don’t work, then you’ll need to find out what it is. Go to your command line and type “ipconfig/all” to find the correct IP address.

You will need your username and password to login. The default usernames and passwords can usually be found in the instruction manual that came with the router; sometimes they’re printed on the box it came in. If your router is still set to the default settings, then you should change them immediately. If your internet service provider set up your home network, they probably will have changed the password. In this case, you’ll need to contact them to find out both your username and password.

Once logged in to the admin area, you should look for something which provides you with a list of connected devices, likely called something like “Wireless Stats.” On this screen you will see a list of all devices which are currently connected to your router. If you have ensured that all your devices are turned off and there are still items in the list, then someone is using your internet without your permission.

Third-Party Software

Routers will usually give you the MAC address of the device that is connected to your network. This won’t help to identify the intruder, so you’ll want to get some more information. There are free apps and programs available to download which will list every device connected to your network. They will also get the device’s name, which may help you to identify the culprit.

Stop People Stealing your Wi-Fi

It should now be apparent if someone is connected to your network without your knowledge. Fortunately, there are many things you can do to prevent them from stealing your Wi-Fi.

Change Passwords

Many people give out their Wi-Fi password to their friends and neighbors. It’s possible that your Wi-Fi thief is an innocent neighbor. You might have given them the password for your Wi-Fi when they were in your house. Most devices will automatically save the login information and users will be automatically connected as they come within range of your network. It’s possible that your neighbor is unaware that they’re using your network and not theirs.

So you should first change the password. To further increase security, you should consider changing your password regularly.

Wi-Fi Security

Some people may be hacking your password to gain access. Your router will have a number of security options to prevent this. You should avoid WEP, as it uses old technology and is easy to hack. Always use WPA2 encryption, as it’s a lot more difficult to hack and will keep your network more secure.

You can also set your router to hide the network’s name (SSID). If your SSID is not publicly visible, it will be more difficult for people to know that you have a wireless router, and it will be less of a target for those looking to use your Wi-Fi without your permission. If you want to connect a network that is hiding the SSID, you will need to know both the SSID and the password.

Having people using your internet without your permission is annoying. It can slow down your internet and take up your bandwidth. It could even end up costing you more money if you go over your data cap. On top of this, people connected to your network could also gain access to all your personal files saved on your computer.

To stop people logging in to your network, you should ensure that you change the password regularly, use WPA2 encryption, and hide your SSID so that it isn’t broadcasted publicly. This won’t stop the most determined hackers, but it will keep out nearly everyone else.

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If you sell information, your product is intangible. Some consider services, such as consultation or web design, to be intangible products. Do you sell domain names or web hosting services? Your product is intangible.

Just because your product is intangible, this in no way means you do not have a need for tangible business tools to be a success. Here are eight of the most common tools your business may need.

1. Computer – You must have a way to manage your business website, receive and send email, and chat with potential clients online. Mobility has become more important since the invention of personal computers and the internet, so instead of having a desktop computer, consider a laptop or tablet. And make sure you protect your computer with a security software solution like Norton.

2. Telephone – You must have a way to talk on the telephone with your customers and venders. Similar to computers, mobility is important for telephone communications. Instead of investing in a home phone, consider a cellphone. You do not have to pay $1000 for a cellphone, but you want a good “smart phone.”

3. Printer/Fax Machine – You will need to print, copy, and scan documents for your business. You will also need a way to send and receive faxes. This can be covered with one device. A good printer should be able to print, copy, scan, and serve as a fax machine. With newer printers, you can even email documents to your printer for printing. This may sound expensive, but surprisingly, it is not. You can get a good printer for around $100 or less.

4. File Cabinet – This may sound incredibly old fashioned, but it is more necessary than you might imagine. It is true that you can store your documents online through a variety of services. You can also store things on your own computer or tablet and flash drives. However, systems can – and do – fail, and this could result in a loss of everything you have stored in that system. Make a habit of printing hard copies of important documents and putting them into a fireproof filing cabinet.

5. Dash Cam – What? Let’s face it: your car is an important part of your business. But of course you can’t write off your car as a business expense (many have tried and failed). But a dash cam is important in protecting your overall security (and your business’ security). Make sure you get the best dash cam for the money.

6. General Office Supplies – You may not need an abundance of office supplies, but you need some basics. Pencils, pens, a stapler, notepads, file folders, and copy paper are essential. You may also want stationary, business cards, highlighters, rubber bands, or paperclips. Each business has different office supply needs, but most need the basics.

7. Suitable Office or Work Area – Your business may be intangible, or even mobile, but you still need a tangible place where you can work. This could be an actual office in a commercial building, a home office, or even a designated area within your home. The area should be quiet and devoid of any distractions.

8. Dependable Vehicle – If your business requires you to travel locally or long distances, you need a good, dependable vehicle. Do not drive up to a client’s home or place of business in an old clunker! If you cannot buy a vehicle, rent one. If you cannot rent one, borrow one. If all else fails, take a cab.

Intangible products are becoming more popular and more expensive as technology advances. While owners of such businesses may hope or think the whole operation can be intangible, they quickly learn that this isn’t possible if you are serious about succeeding in the field you have chosen.